Kenneth Thigpen of Wilson scored the top prize of $100,000 in one of four 2020 Multiply the Cash second-chance drawings.

Thigpen, who recently retired, was picking up dinner at a Zaxby’s drive-thru when he decided to check his email.

“I was sitting in line and I got an email from the North Carolina Education Lottery,” recalled Thigpen. “When I got my food, I pulled over into the parking lot and read it again. I thought someone was playing a game. I couldn’t believe it.”

After picking up dinner, he went home to share his good fortune with his wife. “I just couldn’t believe it, I was so excited,” said Thigpen. “I was so excited, I couldn’t eat.”

Thigpen claimed his prize on Tuesday and after federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $70,750.

“I plan on taking vacation as soon as everything’s settled down,” said Thigpen. “I’m gonna donate to my church and just share it with my kids.”

Thigpen’s entry beat odds of 1 in 14 million to win the top prize in the first of four 2020 Multiply the Cash second-chance drawings on May 20th. Eric Alexander of Scotland Neck won the top prize in the second drawing on June 3rd.

Tickets from all Multiply the Cash games are eligible. Prizes in the drawings include one $100,000 cash prize, eight $5,000 cash prizes, and 25 $500 cash prizes. The next drawing is scheduled for Sept. 9. The entry deadline for that drawing is Aug. 31.

It’s easy to enter, just enter or scan any Multiply the Cash ticket through your account on nclottery.com or with your NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

Ticket sales from scratch-offs make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $700 million per year for education. For details on how $4.4 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Wilson County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.